Automobile signal



Sept. 1 7 1929.

C. F. KAVANEY AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Original Filed Nov. 9, 5

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES I. KAV ANEY, 0F BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR TO I). W. B. KU 'RTZ,

JR., OF BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Application filed November 9, 1925, Serial No. 67,866. Renewed February 4, 1929.

My present invention pertains. to automobile signals such as are designed for day and night use, and it contemplates the provision of a signal designed more particularly but not necessarily for indicating contemplated left hand and right hand turns, the said signal being at once simple and durable in construction and susceptible of quick and easy operation.

Other objects and practical advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which 1- Figure l is a view'partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical'section showing the preferred embodiment of my invention and also showing the said embodiment in proper relation to an automobile body.

Figure 2 is a section at right angles to Figure 1.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in both views of the drawings.

I show in the drawings a portion of an automobile body 1, and I would have it understood that in accordance with my invention the wall of the body 1 is provided with a transverse aperture 2, and is equipped at its inner side with a sheave 3 for the passage of a cable 4, the said cable 4% being manually operable as hereinafter described.

Connected by a bolt 5 to the body wall 1 is the base of a bracket 7 extending outwardly from the body 1 and arranged vertically as shown. The bolt 5 is connected by a conductor 8 with a source of electric energy, not shown. -I would also have it understood that the said bolt 5 is appropriately insulated from the body 1 and the bracket plate 7 sothat the outer portion of the bolt 5 will constitute a terminal contact 9, Figure 1.

Fixed with respect to each other and arranged alongside the bracket 7 are sheaves 10 and 11, each of the said sheaves being circumferentially grooved, Figure 1, and the sheave 10 being larger than the sheave 11 mounted onand carried by in about the proportion illustrated. The said sheaves are connected at 12 to the bracket 7, and similarly connected with the bracket 7 is a conductive arm 13, the said arm being adapted to swing with the sheaves, and being movable to carry its spring terminal extension lt'into and out of contact with the terminal 9 formed by the outer portion of the bolt 5.

Carried by the swingable arm 13 and preferably connected by bolts 15 thereto is a hollow body, preferably of arrow form, made up of a frame 16 and sides 17,the said sides being transparent or translucent and being preferably colored red. The red showingis conventionally illustrated in'Figure 1. It will also be noted by reference to Figure 1 that the hollow body receives the swingable arm 18 to which it is connected. The swingable arm 13 also serves to carry one or more, preferably two, incandescent electric lamps, t he said lamps being the swingable arm 13 in the relation illustrated. The filamentsof the said lamps each has one of its ends electrically connected through a conductor with the terminal 14 on butinsulated from the swingable arm 13, and its opposite end grounded to theconduotive arm 18 or otherwise appropriately connected, as deemed expedient.

Manifestly in the practical installation of my improvement a'switch, not shown, may be connected with the conductor 8 so as to electrically isolate the said conductor from a source of energy during the daytime and connection may be readily established between the said conductor 8 and the source of energy when darkness approaches.

When my improvement is used in the day time, a proper pull on the cable 4 willserve merely to swing the arm 13 and the arrow simulation thereon upwardly into a posi-, tion at right angles to the body 1 or into a position inclined upwardly so as to enable the arm and the arrow simulation carried thereby to serve as a signal for left hand and right hand turns, respectively; and it will also be observed that when the arm 13 is swung upwardly as described, the terminal extension 14 of the arm by bringing up against the outer endof the bolt 5 will not only serve as a cushioning means for the signal when moved to operative positions, but will also serve as a circuit maker, it being manifest in this connection that the terminalportion 14 of the arm '13 is in accordance with this part of my invention essentially resilient and essentially conductive.

when the conductor 8 is electrically connected with a source of electric energy, and the arm 13 and the means carried by said arm 13 are swung upwardly until the terminal extension 14 of the arm 13 brings up against the contact 9 afforded by preference, by the head of the bolt 5, it will be manifest that the contact between 14 and 9 will be attended by the supply of current to the filaments of the incandescent electric lamps numbered with the result that the hollowbody simulating an arrow will be adequately illuminated. The illumination, however, will only continue so long as the arm 13 and the hollow body are extended laterally from the automobile body 1, it be ingv readily apparent that when the arm 13 and the hollow body are swung or gravitate back ,to the pendent normal position shown in Figure 1, relative to the automobile body, the electric connection will be broken by the movement of the terminal14 away from the contact 9. It will also be understood in this connection that the movement of the arm 13 and the hollow body to idle position will be affected by a retractile spring 21 assisted by gravity, the said spring 21 being j connected at one end with the base of the bracket 7. Atits other and outer end the retractile spring 21-is connected to the arm 13, and the springv 21 is so relatively arranged that in concert with the outward movement of the arm 13 and the hollow body thereon the retractile spring 21 will be seated in the circumferential groove of the sheave 11 and, will besupported and sustained by suchsheave 11 in such manner that at no time will the retractile spring 21 be subjected to undue strain.

At one end the cable 4 is connected to the sheave 10, and in the circumferential groove of the sheave a portion of the cable is adapted to lie as shown in Figure 2. At the inner side of the automobile an arcuate keeper is fixed, the said keeper 30 being provided with a notch 31 having an intermediate wide portion 32 and also having reducedportions 33 extending in opposite directions from the wide portion and arranged in parallel vertical planes. A re silient and laterally bendable lever 35 is mounted to swing vertically in the said slot of the keeper, the said lever being fulcrumed at the point 36 and being connectedto the end of the [cable 4. Manifestly when the lever is swung downwardly to a position at the lower end of the wide portion of the slot, the signal arm will be swung upwardly to horizontal position, this to indicate that a left hand turn is about to be made, and in this connection I would have it understood that when it is the purpose of the automobile driver to make a right hand turn, the lever is first pressed or bent horizontally to carry it into coincidence with the lower narrow portion of, the slot, and the lever is then swung vertically down into the said lower narrow portion of the slot whereupon the signal arm will be raised from the horizontal position to a point above said horizontal position so as to rest in inclined position and thereby impart the knowledge that the automobile is about to be turned toward the right.

It is the province of the driver to hold the lever 35 and thereby prevent gravitation of the arm 13 and the parts carried thereby from the raised positions of said arm 13; and it will also be understood that the spring strip 14 is sufficiently long to wipe against and contact with the terminal 9 when the arm 13 is in horizontal position and also when said arm 13is above its horizontal position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my novel signal while simple and inexpensive in construction and adapted to be readily installed on an automobile, is easily operable and is eiiicient for the purpose indicated. It will also be manifest that my novel signal constructed as illustrated and described will enhance rather than detract from the finished appearance of an automobile.

o I have specifically described the preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart the exact understanding of said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the structure and relative arrangement of the elements as disclosed, my invention being defined by my appended claim within the scope of which structural changes and changes in arrangement may be made without departure from my invention.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent,

with the first named sheave, and a rectractile spring connected to the said arm and also to the bracket and arranged alongside of and closely adjacent to the bracket and also arranged to be seated in the circumferential groove of the second named sheave.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES P. KAVANEY. 

